UPDATE (12:56 PM PT): Following Adam Silver’s ruling on Donald Sterling, Jeanie Buss released a statement via Lakers.com:
“In my statement yesterday, I said I had full confidence in Adam Silver and how he and the NBA would handle this situation. In today’s announcement Adam was decisive, firm and compelling and showed great leadership in his condemnation of the horrible and offensive comments that have led to this action.”
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The Donald Sterling saga continues to make headlines across the NBA.
Over the weekend, reactions from the likes of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and James Worthy made their way to Twitter.
On Tuesday afternoon, Lakers president Jeanie Buss released a statement over the Clippers owner’s recording via Lakers.com:
The comments and sentiments expressed on the tape are reprehensible and disturbing, and certainly are the opposite of how the Lakers feel about the league’s players and fans. I have full confidence that Adam Silver and the NBA will handle this situation appropriately.
It should be no surprise that Buss also denounced Sterling’s comments. While the Lakers are not in the playoffs, the team remains one of the most storied franchises in the NBA and all of professional sports. Buss’s statement not only criticizes Sterling, it makes clear the Lakers do not stand any forms of racism or discrimination.
Earlier Tuesday morning, Kobe took to Twitter again and praised the Buss family for the way it has led the Lakers organization over the years. Under the ownership of Jerry Buss, the Lakers won 10 NBA Championships and became a well respected franchise. The Buss children have only been in charge of the team for a little over a year and are looking to rebuild the roster into a championship contending one.
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While Buss finds the opinions stated to be offensive, there has yet to be any form of punishment toward Sterling. The NBA has schedule a press conference Tuesday where NBA commissioner Adam Silver might hand out any possible sanctions against the Clippers owner.
The Clippers will be looking to find a way to get past all the distractions when they take on the Warriors in a critical Game 5 Tuesday night. Across town, the Lakers continue to try and figure out the future of their team.
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Kobe Bryant Responds To Donald Sterling’s Comments
